Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

If a wedding ring is lost, couples may wonder if a replacement needs to be blessed. According to Father Dominic Rankin, Master of Ceremonies and priest secretary for Bishop Thomas John Paprocki in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, it is both possible and encouraged to have a new ring blessed.

“It is a special moment during the Order of Celebrating Matrimony when the priest blesses the rings: ‘May the Lord bless these rings which you give to each other as a sign of love and fidelity. R/ Amen.’ This is right after the couple have exchanged their consent, so they are now married and so the very first thing they do as a newly married husband or wife is to give the other a ring: ‘N., receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,’” said Father Rankin.

He explained that while many view the ring as a symbol of one’s own faithfulness, within Church teaching it represents a gift given by one spouse to another—a promise to love and honor each other for life.

Addressing whether a new ring should be blessed if an original is lost or replaced for any reason, Father Rankin stated: “The short answer is yes, you can. The longer answer is I very much think you ought to!”

He noted that while additional symbols can sometimes be used at weddings in various cultures, such as arras in Hispanic traditions, exchanging rings remains central. The act itself symbolizes mutual giving and receiving between spouses.

To bless a replacement ring, Father Rankin advised: “A priest or bishop could simply make the sign of the cross over the new ring and bestow God’s blessing in his own words: Something like: ‘May God bless this ring and the love that it signifies. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.’ Given that this very simple form is perfectly legitimate, it seems that the priest could instead incorporate some of the language from the Order of Matrimony too, even inviting the person to renew their commitment with the same words they spoke at their wedding: ‘N. Receive this ring … .’”

Father Rankin also suggested couples might use this occasion for an overall marriage blessing—something recommended by Church tradition on significant anniversaries but available at any time. He said: “Within that blessing of the whole marriage, the Church provides for the situation where the couple renews their exchange of rings: ‘Lord, bless and consecrate the love which N. and N. have for one another. May these rings be a symbol of their true faith in each other and of the grace of the sacrament. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.’”

To specifically bless new rings he continued: “‘Lord, bless these rings which we bless in your name. Grant that those who wear them may always have a deep faith in each other. May they continue to enjoy your peace and goodwill and live together in love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.’”

Reflecting on scripture’s only mention by Jesus about rings—the parable of The Prodigal Son—Father Rankin concluded that renewing or replacing wedding rings should involve prayerful reflection on what they symbolize rather than treating them simply as jewelry.

“The ring is not just jewelry but a symbol of gift, of identity, and of relationship,” he said.